Prosecutor: Suspect in Edwin Jackson death convicted in Boone County last year

Indianapolis Colts player Edwin Jackson and his Uber driver were killed on Feb. 4, 2018, by a motorist believed to be driving drunk. The suspect's legal status has reignited debate over immigration by Donald Trump and others.
Dwight Adams/IndyStar

A March 2017 booking photo for Alex Cabrera Gonsales, a.k.a. Manuel Orrego-Savala.(Photo: Provided by the Boone County Sheriff's Office)

The man accused of killing an Indianapolis Colts player and an Uber driver in a drunken driving crash last weekend was convicted of driving without a license last year in Boone County, prosecutors said Tuesday.

Manuel Orrego-Savala, under the alias of Alex Cabrera-Gonsales, pleaded guilty in August 2017 to one count of operating a vehicle without ever receiving a license, Boone County Prosecutor Todd Meyer said in a news release.

Orrego-Savala's use of an alias has complicated the most recent case for police and prosecutors. When he was arrested early Sunday, he initially told police his name was Alex Cabrera-Gonsales. State police later determined that he is Orrego-Savala, a Guatemalan citizen.

On Tuesday afternoon, Meyer said that he and Marion County Prosecutor Terry Curry's office will work to determine Cabrera-Gonsales' true identity, after which one or both agencies will explore possible charges of perjury forgery and identity deception.

Whitestown police stopped the now 37-year-old after he failed to stop at a stop sign, according to court documents. During a traffic stop, police say he showed officers a Mexican ID card but did not have a driver's license.

The Boone County Sheriff's Office said in a news release Tuesday evening that local authorities did not notify ICE of the arrest because they were not legally required to under the circumstances nor did Orrego-Savala's fingerprints trigger an alert when submitted to the Indiana State Police and the FBI.

Months after Orrego-Savala's arrest, the office put into place an internal policy requiring a non-English-speaking arrestee who cannot provide a Social Security Number or identification to fill out a U.S. Department of Justice Immigration and Naturalization Service document.

That document and a photo of the arrestee are then sent to ICE, the office said in a news release. If ICE does not contact the office within 24 hours, the arrestee can bond out.

Sheriff Mike Nielsen said authorities across the country have to walk a line between violating a person's rights and identifying someone who might be in the country illegally.

"Unfortunately, our hands are tied on most of these cases," he said. "Unless these people are entered into the National Crime Information Center Database as a wanted person or a person to be detained, we have no access to check any further."

Orrego-Savala, as Cabrera-Gonsales, was sentenced to two days in jail and given credit for time served.

Prosecutor Meyer described Sunday's crash as tragic.

"What makes it even more tragic is that Cabrera Gonsales a/k/a Orrego Savala shouldn’t have been driving in the first place as according to BMV records he remains unlicensed and suspended," Meyer said in a written statement.

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Indianapolis Colts inside linebacker Edwin Jackson (53) runs off the field after the Colts' 31-26 win over the Green Bay Packers at Lambeau Field in Green Bay, Wis., on Sunday, Nov. 6, 2016. Matt_Kryger/Indy_Star

Indianapolis Colts inside linebacker Edwin Jackson (53) celebrates after a third down stop against the Houston Texans during the second half at Lucas Oil Stadium on Sunday, Dec. 11, 2016. Mykal_McEldowney/Indy_Star

Indianapolis Colts inside linebacker Edwin Jackson (53) celebrates a tackle in the first half of their preseason NFL football game at Lucas Oil Stadium Sunday afternoon, August 12, 2017. Matt Kryger/IndyStar

Indianapolis Colts linebacker Edwin Jackson (53) before the start of their game against the Cincinnati Bengals. The Indianapolis Colts play the Cincinnati Bengals Thursday, September 1, 2016, evening at Paul Brown Stadium in Cincinnati, OH. Matt Kryger/IndyStar

Indianapolis Colts linebacker Edwin Jackson (53) and outside linebacker Curt Maggitt (92) lay a hit on Cincinnati Bengals running back Tra Carson (39) during the second half of the game at Paul Brown Stadium on Thursday, September 1, 2016. Matt_Kryger/Indy_Star

Tennessee Titans defensive back Valentino Blake (47) goes up to pull down a punt near the Titans' end zone at Lucas Oil Stadium on Sunday, Nov. 20, 2016. Indianapolis Colts inside linebacker Edwin Jackson (53) was there to pull him down. Mykal_McEldowney/Indy_Star

Indianapolis Colts inside linebacker Edwin Jackson (53) tries to pull New York Jets tight end Brandon Bostick (82) down by the jersey during the second half at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, N.J., on Monday, Dec. 5, 2016. Mykal_McEldowney/Indy_Star

Indianapolis Colts linebacker Edwin Jackson (53) celebrates a tackle on on Tennessee Titans running back DeMarco Murray (29) in the first half of their game Sunday, October 23, 2016, at Nissan Stadium in Nashville TN. Mykal_McEldowney/Indy_Star

Indianapolis Colts linebacker Edwin Jackson (53) during the national anthem prior to the Colts facing off in their final preseason game against the Cincinnati Bengals at Paul Brown Stadium in Cincinnati on Thursday, September 1, 2016 Matt Kryger/IndyStar